וַיִּקְרָא֙ (way·yiq·rā) in Jonah 3:4: Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
וַיִּקְרָא֙ (way·yiq·rā) in Jonah 3:4
Source Word
The BSB+ row for Jonah 3:4 links the English rendering "and proclaimed" with וַיִּקְרָא֙, Strong's H7121, and the parsing label Conj-w | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms.
How The Form Affects Interpretation
The form helps readers distinguish Jonah's act of proclamation from the people's later response.
How To Communicate It
Use the form to ask who is calling or proclaiming, and what the surrounding verse says is being called for or proclaimed.
What Not To Say
- Grammar should serve context, not override it.
- Do not make the consecutive imperfect label prove more than the sentence supports.
- Do not use the stem label by itself to settle a theological claim.
- Do not treat this occurrence as a complete word study for the whole Hebrew lemma.
What Does The Label Mean?
Hebrew-verb
Verb
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Conjunctive waw
Qal
Consecutive imperfect
Third person
Masculine
Singular
The consecutive imperfect carries the Jonah 3 narrative forward by presenting a proclamation action in sequence.
This form carries the BSB rendering "and proclaimed" within Jonah 3:4, where Jonah proclaiming the warning in Nineveh.
What The Form Does In This Verse
Jonah proclaiming the warning in Nineveh
The narrative and decree context of Jonah 3
The form helps readers distinguish Jonah's act of proclamation from the people's later response.
It does not by itself settle every use of H7121, the full nature of repentance, or the whole theology of mercy in Jonah.
How Much The Form Matters Here
High: The form carries a key calling or proclamation action in Jonah 3.
Narrative predicate of proclamation. states the calling or proclamation action within the verse. Attached to Jonah proclaiming the warning in Nineveh. Governed by the narrative and decree context of Jonah 3. The context makes this a proclamation act rather than a naming formula.
What does Jonah do in the city? Jonah proclaims the warning message in Nineveh.
Direct: The form directly supports the English rendering "and proclaimed" in this occurrence.
H7121 can mean call, name, read, or proclaim; Jonah 3 supplies the proclamation or calling context. The consecutive imperfect advances the narrative but does not by itself prove the depth or quality of the response.
Root meaning decides every occurrence: The verse context decides whether H7121 is naming, proclaiming, reading, or calling out. grammar alone proves repentance: Do not make the root idea of calling settle the whole message; Jonah 3:4 supplies the prophetic warning.
How The Interpretation Is Derived
The BSB+ row for Jonah 3:4 links the English rendering "and proclaimed" with וַיִּקְרָא֙, Strong's H7121, and the parsing label Conj-w | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms.
H7121 is represented here by the lemma קָרָא. In this occurrence, the public guide is limited to the BSB rendering "and proclaimed" rather than every possible gloss of the entry.
The Qal consecutive imperfect advances the Jonah 3 narrative by presenting the proclamation action in Jonah 3:4.
Jonah 3 shows the renewed command, the preaching in Nineveh, repentance, and mercy.
The form fits Scripture's witness to mercy, repentance, prophetic obedience, and God's compassion for the nations.
When teaching Jonah 3:4, use this form to show the calling or proclamation action in the verse. Let Jonah 3 supply the repentance, warning, and mercy context.
Do not use H7121, the Qal stem, or the imperfect label alone to settle the whole doctrine of repentance, prophetic preaching, prayer, or mercy.